Khalwale: I differ with Gachagua but admire how he listens to the ground
By Mabonga Makhanu, September 25, 2025Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has come out to state that although he doesn’t agree with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, he admires how he insists on listening to the ground.
While speaking on the floor of the Senate on Thursday, September 25, 2025, Khalwale stated that he has found it difficult to read from the same script with the former Deputy President due to his tribalistic mindset, but one thing that makes him admire him is his continued call for listening to the local mwananchi at the grassroots level.
Khalwale went ahead to recall how the two houses of Parliament were attacked in 2024 during the Gen Z Finance Bill protests after they refused to listen to the concerns raised by the young people over their displeasure with the bill.
Despite the public uproar, Parliament went ahead with the Finance Bill process.
Khalwale further told the Senate that it risks finding itself in similar circumstances if it does not listen to the ground.
“When we were insensitive to the voices of the hoi polloi on the infamous Finance Bill of 2024, we almost killed her. So let’s be sensitive to what the public says. I never agree with Wamunyoro. I find it very difficult to agree with him because of his tribalism, but the one thing that I think Wamunyoro gets right is that he listens to the people. We must listen to the people,” Khalwale stated.
‘Skiza ground’ slogan
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has established himself as a leader who listens to the ground.
Even his party, DCP, has its slogan as ‘Skiza Ground’, with a hand encircling the ear symbolising listening to Kenyans, since, according to Gachagua, they are the stakeholders of the nation and their views should always be taken into consideration.
Gachagua, who recently declared interest in unseating President William Ruto in 2027, said that the decision was informed by him listening to the ground, with Kenyans choosing him as the most suitable candidate to unseat President William Ruto in 2027.
Waiguru claims phrase’s origin
The ‘Skiza Ground’ slogan has been countered by other leaders allied to the state, such as Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, who was also synonymous with the phrase in the run-up to the 2022 elections when she was at a crossroads on which side to join.
She said she was listening to the ground to determine which side she could support, and after a few days, she joined UDA, stating that it was the ground that had advised her to do so.
She later told Gachagua to his face during a church meeting that she was the originator of the phrase.